The UK Health Security Agency has issued a cold weather warning, coinciding with flooding in parts of England as a result of a week of heavy rainfall. Temperatures are expected to remain low for several days, with the warning in place until Friday of next week. Around 250 flood warnings are also in place mostly in central and southern England. The Environment Agency has suggested that there will be significant river flooding impacts on Saturday.
The UKHSA has warned that a brisk easterly wind developing in the South of England over the weekend will make temperatures feel even colder. The agency also highlighted that the wet ground in many areas would make ice a significant issue. In addition to the flood warnings in England, two are in place in Wales on the River Wye and the River Ritec.
Labour has criticised the government for being “asleep at the wheel” over flood warnings and has asked for an urgent “Cobra-style taskforce” to protect flood-hit homes from further damage. The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is also being called upon to visit affected areas. The government has said Environment Secretary Steve Barclay is in close contact with the Environment Agency but there are no plans as yet for a Cobra meeting. Robbie Moore, the minister responsible for flooding, has said that the government is taking the issue of repeat flooding seriously and is considering what compensation may be offered to people affected.
The world has already warmed by 1.1C since the industrial era and increasing temperatures will continue without steep cuts in world emissions, according to experts. Although scientists point to a warmer atmosphere increasing the chance of extreme rain and storms, many factors contribute to extreme weather, and therefore more time is necessary for scientists to establish the nature of the relationship between climate change and occasional weather events
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